Vehicle vent structure

Abstract

A mounting structure for vent systems on vehicles with metallic roof tops including a rigid frame adapted to be welded to the perimeter of an opening in the roof and projecting vertically above the surface of the roof to form a barrier to the passage of moisture. The frame is covered with a resilient frame, one portion of which acts as a seal between the rigid frame and the vent and the remainder of the resilient frame acts as a molding concealing the weld between the rigid frame and the roof of the vehicle. The rigid frame is provided with captive fastener elements which receive complementary fasteners for retaining a vent on the roof structure of the vehicle and at the same time permits easy removal of the vent in the absence of access to the interior of the vehicle.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A mounting structure for vent systems on vehicles having metallic roof tops comprising; a frame adapted to surround an opening in said roof top, said frame having an L-shaped cross section including a vertical flange having a lower edge adapted to be continuously welded to said metallic roof top, a horizontal flange extending from an upper edge of said vertical flange and extending inwardly of said frame, and fastening means disposed in selected locations at the other side of said horizontal flange to receive and retain threaded fasteners extending from said vent system and through said frame, seal means disposed between said vent system and said frame and being clamped therebetween by said fastening means to provide a weather tight seal, said seal means being formed by a flexible molding member covering the exterior of said first mentioned frame and a marginal area of the roof top adjacent said frame. 
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said fastening means are threaded nut elements supported in permanently attached, rotatable relation at the underside of said frame. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 1 and further comprising a molding member having a z-shaped cross section surrounding said frame and being disposed in engagement with said horizontal and vertical flanges of said frame and being adapted to engage a portion of said roof top adjacent to said frame. 
     
     
       4. A mounting structure for vent assemblies on vehicle bodies to cover openings in metallic roof tops comprising; a frame adapted to surround an opening in said roof top, said frame having an L-shaped cross section including a vertical flange having a lower end adapted to be continuously welded to a metallic roof top, a horizontal flange extending from an upper edge of said vertical flange and extending inwardly of said frame, a molding member having a z-shaped cross section surrounding said frame and being in engagement with said horizontal and vertical flanges and being engageable with a portion of said roof top adjacent said frame, a vent assembly for covering said opening having a mounting flange complementary to the portion of said molding member on said horizontal flange said portion of said molding member on said horizontal flange forming a flexible seal, and fastening means joining said vent assembly and frame together, said fastening means including bolts passing through said vent assembly, said flexible seal and frame and being threadably received in rotatable nuts, said nuts being supported on said frame for rotation in axially fixed position independently of said bolts.